Pneumatic display-last



(No Model.)

J. THILL. PNEUMATIC DISPLAY LAST Patented June 7, 1898 Witt moan ms NORRIS pzrzns co.. m'crauma. wisnmomu. o. c,

\VILLIAM J. TI-IILL, OF VVAUKON, IOWVA.

PNEUMATIC DISPLAYQ-LASTqm SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 605,239, dated June. 7, 1898.

Application filed June so, 189"?- last for this purpose.

With this object in view myinvention consists in an inflatable bag, of rubber or other suitable material, having the form of a last or the interior of a shoe when inflated and adapted to be placed while collapsed in a shoe and inflated therein to properly distend the upper of a shoe in order to display it in a show-window or similar place.

My invention further consists in an inflatable bag for the purpose set forth provided with an inner supporting-frame adjustable to different sizes of shoes.

My invention further consists in an in flatable bag for the purpose described supported by an adjustable metallic frame, said frame being secured to an inner support-plug of wood.

My invention further consists in the improved construction, arrangement, and combination of parts hereinafter fully described, and afterward specifically pointed out in the claims. 7

In order to enable persons skilled in the art to which my invention most nearly appertains to make and use the same, I will now proceed to describe its construction and operation in connection with the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which Figure 1 is a longitudinal central section through the shoe having my invention applied therein in position for practical operation. Fig. 2 isa detail perspective view showing the supporting-plug and metallic frame removed from the inflatable bag.

Like letters of reference will mark the same parts wherever they occur throughout both views.

Referring to the drawings by letters, A is a shoe in which my inflatable display-last is inserted.

B is abag, of rubber'or other similar mate- Serial No. 642,980. or ma i.)

rial, shaped to approximatewhen inflated the form of the interior of a shoe.

0 is a wooden 'plug adapted to be placed within the inflatable bag B and provided near its top with a circumferential groove D, into which the upper edge or mouth of the inflatable bag is to be tightly secured by means of a rubber or other cord E. 3

F is a metallic frame secured to the plug 0 within the inflatable bag to partially distend the bag before inflation in order to facilitate its proper adjustment into the interior of the shoe. This'metallic frame is preferably made of a single strip of tempered or elastic metal and secured to the bottom of the plug 0 bya screw G, as shown in Fig. 1. The rear upwardly-projecting arm F of the frame F rests against the adjusting screw G, extending backwardly from the plug 0, whereby this portion of the frame F may be pressed backwardly, causing the rear side of the inflatable bag to closely hug the inside of the back part of the shoe A. This adjustment will also permit the use of the same frame and bagin different-sized shoes. The front arm F of the frame F is'also adjustable for different sizes of shoes, said adjustment being performed by placing the end thereof in higher or lower recesses H, with which the front side of the plug 0 is provided.

I is an inflating-valve of any ordinary constructionsuch, for instance, as is used, for the same purpose in pneumatic tires.

Any ordinary bicycle-pum p may be applied to the valve I which will force air through the channel J, cut in the plug 0, whereby the inflatable bag may be distended and caused to fill out the shoe to its exact and proper shape, whereby it may be displayed to great advantage in a show-window or other similar slight changes or variations insuc hdetails and scope of my invention.

Having thus fully described my invention, What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is v 1. A display-last for shoes comprising in its construction an inflatable bag formed to approach in shape the interior of the shoe, When inflated, a Wooden supportin g-plu g Within said bag, and a metallic frame secured to said plug Within said bag, and means for ad justing the size of the metallic frame, substantially as described.

2. A display-last for shoes comprising in its construction an inflatable bag formed to approach the shape of the interior of the shoe, when inflated, a Wooden supporting-block having front notches, and an elastic metallic supporting-frame attached to the supportingblock Within said bag and having its upper end inserted in one of said recesses, substantially as described.

3. A display-last for shoes comprising in its construction an inflatable bag formed to approach the shape of the interior of the shoe, when inflated, a wooden supportingblock having a rear recess, an elastic, metallic, supporting-frame attached to the supportingblock Within the bag, having its rear end extending up the back part of the bag, and an adj listing-screw projecting from the recess in the'block and bearing against said rear end, substantially as described.

4. The combination with the inflatable bag, of the wooden plug C secured therein and provided with a series of recesses in its front end, the flexible metallic frame F having its front end inserted in one of said recesses, an adj usting-screw G projecting rearwardly from the plug and serving to distend the rear end of said metallic frame, and suitable means for connecting a pump for the purpose of inflating the bag, substantially as described.

WILLIAM J. THILL.

Witnesses:

HANS G. J OHNSON, O. S. STILWELL. 

